Mencap to drop tie-up with Littlewoods game

Mental health charity Mencap has pulled out of a fundraising deal with Littlewoods Lotteries scratchcards because of the low returns the operator offers.

Littlewoods’ scratchcard games are operated regionally, with the UK split into seven regions. Charities receive funds from scratchcards sold in one of the regions, and are required to distribute the funds in that region.

But Mencap says this means returns are lower than with a national scratchcard game and it is looking to launch a national game with another operator.

Littlewoods says it runs games for 56 charities and has a waiting list of 300 more. A spokesman adds: “If a charity receives funds from other tickets it will influence our decision. If it does not receive funds from other sources, it will receive a higher priority.”

Littlewoods launched its scratchcards in 1995, and claims to be the leader in the UK charity scratchcard market, selling about 1 million cards a week. It spent 2.5m earlier this year on a TV advertising campaign featuring charities for which the funds are being raised.

Mencap’s move follows news that the Post Office is reviewing its distribution deal with Littlewoods Pools that could see the Quick Pix game delisted from up to 3,000 UK post offices (MW April 26).